Navy Debunks Malicious Media Campaign Against The Nigerian Navy’S Renewed Fight Towards Eradicating Crude Oil Theft And Other illegalities In Nigeria’s Maritime Domain.
By Helen Udoh, Outlook Media ABUJA.
The attention of the Naval Headquarters has been drawn to the untoward
activities of some desperate individuals/organizations engaged in sponsoring of
fraudulent and unsubstantiated publications in some mainstream media and online
news platforms against the ongoing effort of the Nigerian Navy (NN) towards
eradicating the menace of crude oil theft and other forms of illegalities in the
Nation’s maritime domain.
This was contained in a statement signed by Rear Admiral AO Ayo-Vaughan,Director of Information
On Thursday in Abuja said It has been observed that their modus operandi includes sourcing the services
of third-party agents/sectional egoists to discredit the reinvigorated stance of the NN
in the fight against crude oil theft. Ordinarily, the NN would not have responded to
such baseless assertions, but it has become necessary in order to prevent gullible
members of the public from being misinformed by the erroneous publications.
Suffice to state that the NN in the discharge of her statutory responsibilities as
enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will continue to
work tirelessly for the betterment of the nation’s maritime security.
It is on record that the NN has always worked harmoniously with all maritime
stakeholders nationally, regionally and internationally. The coming onboard of
Private Maritime stakeholders for the protection of critical onshore economic assets
in the sole interest of the nation’s economy is a known development provided
professionalism and Standard Operating Procedures are upheld strictly. Hence, it is
complete fallacy to allege to the contrary via sponsored ill-conceived and
uncorroborated publications.
Evidently, the NN as the Lead Agency for the security of Nigeria’s Maritime
Environment has been in the forefront of galvanizing legitimate maritime
stakeholders for the collective fight against crude oil theft and to secure our national
economy assets. This is obvious with the various past and ongoing operations and
exercises designed to curb maritime criminalities and particularly oil theft. Some of
these operations are: Operation DAKAR TA DABARWO, Operation CALM
WATERS, Operation NCHEKWE OSHIMILI and Exercise SEA GUARDIAN
among others.
Pertinently, NN operations against crude oil theft in 2023 effected the arrest
of 23 ships, over 233 suspects, 690 wooden boats with stolen crude oil and products
while over 703 illegal refining sites were destroyed. Also, tens of barges, 82 vehicles
and tanker trucks were arrested and crude oil and Petroleum products amounting to
over N105 billion were confiscated and denied oil thieves. Appropriate prosecuting
agencies are in custody of all arrested suspects and the fight against crude oil theft
is ongoing with renewed vigour in year 2024.
It is not surprising therefore that these ignorant publications aimed at
distracting the Navy are obviously sponsored by the soon-to-be-arrested criminals
involved in oil theft who are feeling the impact of the Nigerian Navy’s renewed fight
towards eradicating the menace of oil theft. The Navy’s effort has been visible
leading to increase in oil production in the last 6 months as rightly reported by
relevant authorities and the media.
The Navy under the able and focused leadership of Vice Admiral Emmanuel
Ikechukwu Ogalla will not be deterred by the malicious and misguided propaganda
in the media. The sponsored campaigns of calumny will not deter the NN from
carrying out her constitutional enshrined roles in the interest of National economy.
Accordingly, members of the public are enjoined to jettison the highly unpatriotic
publications.